Germer, T.
(2012),
Differential matrices for depolarizing media, Optics Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=909647
(Accessed October 15, 2025)
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Differential matrices for depolarizing media
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Abstract
The evolution of a Stokes vector through depolarizing media is considered. A general form for the differential matrix is derived that is appropriate in the presence of depolarization, and is parameterized in a manner that ensures that it yields, upon integration, a valid Mueller matrix for any choice of parameters with some limited constraints. The form expands the more limited form for a non-depolarizing matrix given by Azzam [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 68, 1756-1767 (1978)] and which was extended recently by others to include depolarization. A decomposition for a Mueller matrix is proposed, based upon the parameters for the differential matrix, which when integrated over unit length, would yield the same Mueller matrix.Citation
Optics Letters
Volume
37
Issue
5
Pub Type
Journals
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Keywords
depolarization, Mueller matrix, polarization
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Created March 1, 2012, Updated February 19, 2017